Saturday, May 28, 2016

Top 5 Nigerian Soups and their Health benefits

Nigerian soups are one of the most delicious soups in Africa. How do I know? Well just by looking at the surface anatomy of the soup you will know. There are lots of Nigerian soups... almost 50. And We all eat soups all the time with our eba, semo or akpu to escort it. So I took the liberty to write down the top 5 Nigerian soups and because we care about your health, we went an extra mile to get the health benefits YOU derive from them. The list is based on the tastiness of the soup and also the popularity. For some soups we got their scientific name (that's if you care to use) Now let's check them out, trust me you will enjoy it.

5. EdikangIkong

This soup is so delicious that after eating it you forget to add the 'g' in edikang or ikong when pronouncing it. It is a really ancient soup that originated from the south-south part if Nigeria. It's primarily made up of fresh vegetables, other condiments include onions, pumpkin and tomatoes. So now, how does this meal benefit your health? First off edikang ikong is rich in omega 3 fatty acids which means that it aids vision as well as reducing the risk of rheumatism and arthritis in older people. It also reduces the risk of stroke.

4. EgusiSoup

Egusi soup or melon seed soup is one the most popular soups in Nigerian. It is not just sweet oo..It's east to prepare. The melon seed (Citrulluslanatus) is reach in protein and fats. It also contains a sufficient amount of Vitamin A and C.which means it plays an important role in vision, reproduction, Growth, Bone and teeth formation.

3. EweduSoup

This is the most popular soup in the whole of Nigeria. It is called ogbono in the East, and ayoyo in the North. It is primarily made up of jute leaves as well as saluyot leaves. This soup is so thick and slimy. This is the only soup that teach you how to knit cloths. "It takes great handy skill to successfully wrap your eba around ewedu and swallow it neatly " - Jaja of Opobo, 1879.Health benefits are ; It is a good source of dietary fibres. It is also the Nigerian soup with the lowest calories, which makes it great for weight loss. The leaves are used herbally to treat gonorrhea, fever and piles.

2. BitterleafSoup

Forget the fact that there is bitter in the name, the sweetness of this soup can help you avoid sugar. It's also very popular among Igbo's, Yoruba's and Hausa's. The scientific name of the leaf is Vermoniaamygdalina (Am sure that's what Hon. Patrick calls it).The major health benefit you derive is it's antioxidant content. Which helps fight against cancer growth. It also reduces sugar level and helps the kidney and pancreas to function well. Time for number one!

1. OhaSoup

The King is here. This soup is like Messi, it always comes first. Need I say much, It is the most delicious soup according to Forbes Nigeria. Ask Basketmouth his favourite soup and you'll understand. Oha soup is gotten from oha leaf. The scientific name of the leaf is Pterocarpussayonsii. The soup is prepared with cocoyam. And this cocoyam is rich in Vitamin B6 and magnesium. This means it is very good for pregnant women. It also controls high blood pressure and protects the heart. The cocoyam content also contains flavinoids that helps protect the body from lung and throat cancer.

So I hope you all enjoyed the write up and now know the health benefits you derive from your favorite Nigerian soups.